Charlton Athletic struck gold with £4m Bolton Wanderers transfer | OneFootball

Claus Jensen proved to be fan favourite at the Valley after arriving from Bolton Wanderers

Claus Jensen went on to become a fan favourite at the Valley following his £4 million transfer to Charlton Athletic from Bolton Wanderers.

Jensen proved to be a transfer to remember for Charlton as the Danish international arrived at the Valley in the summer of 2000 for £4 million from Bolton.

Jensen went on to make 130 appearances in four seasons for the Addicks, where he made himself a fan favourite by being a key part of Charlton's spell in the Premier League by scoring 16 goals.

The attacking midfielder was signed by Charlton for a club-record fee at the time and certainly lived up to expectations by not only making a name for himself at club level but on the international stage too, as Jensen earned 47 caps for the Denmark national team, scoring eight goals for them over the course of his career.

With Jensen being well known for his goal-scoring abilities as well as creative nature at the heart of the Charlton midfield, his name will forever be in the hearts of the Addicks fans.

Jensen's £4 million price tag paid off for Charlton - he relished playing there

After Charlton boss at the time, Alan Curbishley, paid £4 million for Jensen's signature on a five-year deal, what came next for the Dane was nothing but positive.

Having to live up to the £4 million paid didn't seem to phase the midfielder after going on to have a shining career in a Charlton shirt.

Upon signing for the Addicks, Jensen said via BBC Sport: "Everything about the club is top drawer. They have impressed me from the board to the manager and the fans and the ground."

He went on to say: "It will be my first year in the Premiership. I've played Premiership teams in cup games, but it's always different in the league. It's definitely a higher level. That's where every player wants to be and Charlton have given me my chance."

Jensen took to top-flight football like a duck to water by being a regular starter for Charlton and made 122 Premier League appearances for them.

A sad and sorry end to Jensen's career

Even after his time at the Valley, Jensen made Craven Cottage his home for the final three years of his career, where he continued playing top-flight football for Fulham before hanging up his boots in 2007.

Jensen's career came to a sad and sorry end for the Danish international as he was forced into retirement at 30 years of age due to continuous injuries that halted him receiving regular playing time.

Jensen told Sky Sports: "I am not lacking the desire, the ambitions and enjoyment to play. It's my body which signals, which it can't cope with football on the top level."

After a flourishing four-year spell at Charlton, it sure is a shame to see the career of such a naturally talented footballer slowly decline.

Jensen remembered as cult hero among Charlton fans

However, Jensen's legacy is remembered for the good times he gave the Addicks fans when reflecting on his Charlton days via the official club website, such as his infamous chip away to Arsenal at Highbury, or his late goal against Blackburn Rovers at the Valley.